Wonderful newsreel footage (with sound!) of opening day at Yankee Stadium 1931

[Jason Carota]

I could watch that video over and over! Thanks for posting! The "Dec 7, 1929 - Driving Through Broadway At Daytime, NYC" is great, too.

[insidethewrapper]

The outfield dimensions are great . Left Field is very short ( under 300 ft ?) , left center was a Mile ! and Center Field is about 500 feet. I believe Right Field was under 300 feet but I didn't see it in the video. Anyone know the dimensions in 1931 ?

Great Video, thanks.

Interesting seeing a fielder picking up his glove at 12:52 for the next inning. Back in the day they didn't take their gloves back with them to the dugout but left them in the field.

[Snapolit1]

Wow wow wow. Just incredible.

[Donscards]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

The outfield dimensions are great . Left Field is very short ( under 300 ft ?) , left center was a Mile ! and Center Field is about 500 feet. I believe Right Field was under 300 feet but I didn't see it in the video. Anyone know the dimensions in 1931 ?

Great Video, thanks.

Interesting seeing a fielder picking up his glove at 12:52 for the next inning. Back in the day they didn't take their gloves back with them to the dugout but left them in the field.

Mike I also noticed the dimensions, wow, todays players would whine if they had to hit in that stadium--and yet Babe and Lou hit shots there---left/center and center field was deep and huge.

[pokerplyr80]

Great stuff. I might have to start watching more footage of old games.

[obcbeatle]

Thanks for posting the link to this 1931 film (I love the banter between the Babe and Claire :-) ... plus the link to the USC video archive. Some cool film in there!

[irv]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

I noticed, at the 7:50 mark, the cameraman (seemed?) focused on 2 black gentlemen in the stands. The cameraman didn't move/pan away until the one black gentleman began to stare at the cameraman.

With Jackie not debuting until 1946, I also thought blacks had to sit in their own segregated areas while attending ball games and a whole other bunch of stuff. (back of the bus, etc)

I assume this was only certain states/ball diamonds?

History is funny, and I guess it all depends on who tells it, but I did find that surprising, those 2 gentlemen sitting there, among white people, all the way back in 1931.

[Buythatcard]

When was the last time any of us attended a game where almost every man wore a suit and tie?

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by irv

I noticed, at the 7:50 mark, the cameraman (seemed?) focused on 2 black gentlemen in the stands. The cameraman didn't move/pan away until the one black gentleman began to stare at the cameraman.

I didn't think the camera was focusing on them. Didn't even notice them. Just a couple of faces in the crowd to me.

[DVCARDS]

Outstanding film. Always love watching these. Thanks for posting.

[Rickyy]

got me charged up for the new season!

Ricky Y

[OldSchoolBaseball]

That was awesome....

I noticed the flag at half staff (why?)
I loved how the train stopped during anthem
Never see this again - hats and wool suits
and what a huge ball park from that 1st base vantage point

Thanks for sharing!